Baked Ziti

1. In a large preheated pan, add in olive oil and cook down the diced onion until softened and the edges begin to browl. Stir in the minced garlic, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add in the Italian sausage and ground beef, breaking it apart to brown. 
2. While the onions begin to cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta when complete and set aside. 
3. As the meat begins to brown, add in the dry seasonings, half of the salt, ground pepper, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. When the meat has cooked through, drain away about 85% of the grease and liquid in the pan. 
4. Stir in the pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce (whichever you call it) and crushed tomatoes. Stir together. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. 
5. Simmer the meat sauce until it is heated through and the flavors begin to meld. 
6. In another large bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese, egg, and Italian seasoning. Set aside momentarily. 
7. In another large bowl, place the cooked pasta, and stir in half of the meat sauce. Fold in the ricotta cheese mixture, folding only a little so large chunks of the ricotta remain. (Trust me, don’t mix it, the big pockets of ricotta are amazing when baked!)
8. To create the freezer friendly version of this baked ziti, divide the pasta into three 8×8″ square pans. Top with the remaining sauce on top of the pasta. Then, sprinkle remaining shredded cheeses over the top. 
9. To bake immediately, you can put into a 350 degree oven and bake until bubbling through, about 30 minutes. 

How to Freeze Baked Ziti

1. Divide pasta into the square disposable baking pans, and top as the recipe instructions indicate.
2. To cool the pasta, place the square pans onto a large baking sheet and freeze, uncovered until frozen, or at least thoroughly cooled through. This will prevent the build up of any food borne pathogens.
3. Once completely cooled, or frozen, in the pans, remove from the fridge or freezer.
4. The wrapping of the pans can be done a couple of different ways –
   1. Layer plastic wrap directly on top of the pasta, followed by a layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. This creates and additional vapor barrier to prevent freezer burn. Or, double layer foil, or heavy duty foil, on top of the pasta, sealing around the edges tightly to create an airtight container.
5. I suggest writing the name of the dish, and baking instructions on the foil prior to wrapping.
6. Place the casserole dish back into the freezer until ready to bake. 

Baking Instructions

1. If Thawed or Freshly Made – Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until heated through and bubbling in the middle.
2. If Frozen – Bake at 375 degrees, covered, for 1 Hour 30 Minutes. Uncover, and bake an additional 30 minutes or until heated through and bubbling in the middle. 
3. Allow to rest about 5 minutes before serving.